Field Visit

Wednesday 02 October, - 10.00 for 10.30am
Location: Rushmore Golf Club, Rushmore Park, Tollard Royal, Salisbury, SP5 5QB.  

ST957187; (395780, 118790)

Driving in from the east pass through Sixpenny Handley village on the B3081 heading towards Tollard Royal. The golf club entrance is signed about a mile further on, the right hand, north, side. The drive takes you through the Rushmore Park. When the road divides, take the right hand fork (signed Golf Club). You will cross a cattle grid into the golf course, the clubhouse is ahead and with the car park behind it.

From Blandford take the A354 towards Salisbury. After 3 miles you will drive through the village of Tarrant Hinton and about a mile further on you will pass a left turn signed Chettle and just beyond this at the brow of the hill is the large brown sign to the Golf Club as noted above. Continue north on down past Minchington Farm and on reaching Minchington Cross turn right (as towards Woodcutts and Sixpenny Handley) and the main entrance to the Golf Club is on the left-hand – north side. And continue through the Park as above.

Our August field meeting (kindly recorded by Robin Walls) was one to present a thought-provoking patchwork of evidence – a lost ‘ploughed out’ lost length of the boundary, lengths of low boundary bank presenting several ‘elongated’ tree stools suggesting long periods of rather more systematic management. And the remains of a very high wooden fence almost overgrown. And – not least – a now completely overgrown tumulus. Which in itself suggests that the boundary here is one of considerable age. Then there was the boundary ‘salient’ presented around the walled Rushmore garden. And – once clear of trees – those panoramic views which we have noted so often along lengths of Dorset’s borders with its neighbours.

Graham Hoddinott suggested that, following the interest expressed by the Rushmore Estate, we should forward an ‘Executive Summary’ to Philip Gready as to assist in ‘putting him in the picture’ a linking of the AONB Landscape Partnership Trust and the Rushmore Trust set up in 2015. And am attaching a copy of this. Last month Andy Poore was back in touch (last in touch further to the N/S Perrrot length we walked in 2017). I learn that he has been Forestry Consultant for Rushmore since 1987 and that the Estate Woods have been the site of a major bio-diversity project in co-operation with Natural England since 1990 with the focus being the 1000 acres of surviving semi-natural woodland which is also an SSSI. And is aware of the rich history of the Estate over and above the legacy of the General [Pitt-Rivers] on the prehistoric sites. Andy had a meeting with Linda Nunn of the AONB at the end of August and regretted not being able to join us on the 7 August being on holiday.

Please note

The activities of our Research Group are organised informally, and by joining in any of our outdoor events you do so entirely at your own risk, and we accept no liability for those who participate. If you wish to join us you are reminded that you must rely on your own ability and experience to gauge the difficulty and severity of the activity and the route or terrain involved, and you will be responsible for your own safety at all times.

Footpaths can be un-surfaced and, in places, steep or muddy. Any decision to continue or discontinue any walk or activity at any point is entirely your own choice, and you are reminded that you should have appropriate clothing, rainwear and footwear, and carry sun protection, food and drink adequate for the weather and the duration of the walk or excursion.